What Has Been the Most Iconic Car/Bodyshell for RC?
This week, we were once again on the hunt to find the best of the best. Although we will admit, our hot topic question was a little confusing. Mainly because RC cars come in all shapes and sizes, so with some models, the bodyshell is unique to the car—raising the question, is it the car or the shell that makes it iconic? Some followers also wondered whether the choice should be based on popularity or performance. We just liked the fact it caused a good friendly debate, leading to some truly iconic cars and bodyshells being mentioned.
What Makes a Bodyshell or Car Iconic?
After asking our followers, these seemed to be the main factors that were mentioned:
Performance
This is especially important with on-road bodyshells that cover the entire chassis, performance plays a big part in making the body stand out from the rest. In many cases, car models that weren’t overly iconic in their full-size versions could still become legendary in their scaled-down tributes. Some of the truly iconic models even ended up with different versions to suit various track conditions.
Popularity
Popularity and being iconic always go hand in hand, as it’s one of the main factors. With RC cars, it's good to see that a lot of popular bodyshells are not just famous because of the full-sized versions they are based on. Many of Tamiya's most popular models were inspired by cars that were so unusual they didn’t work in full size but became extremely fun as a scaled model. Examples of this are the Baja Beetle and Lunch Box monster truck.
How Recognisable Is It Outside the Hobby?
The final factor is similar to popularity but focuses more on body shapes that people will recognise as an RC car rather than a full-sized car. The Tamiya Grasshopper and Hornet are prime examples of this. There are also a lot of touring car bodies that were loved in scaled models but considered average in their full-sized versions. The Opel Vectra and Ford Mondeo are good examples of this.
So, What Are the Most Iconic Bodyshells and Cars?
We asked our followers, and after a great response, we have come up with the following list…
5 - Tenth Tech Predator
The first one on our list wasn’t really mentioned by our followers, but we feel it is recognised as a unicorn of RC cars. So much so that prices for this car have skyrocketed over the past few years.
The Tenth Technology Predator was one of the most advanced 4WD RC buggies of it's time, featuring Formula 1-inspired design, unique shock mounting, and a handmade carbon fibre driveshaft. Highly rare, it became harder to find after the company vanished. A true collector’s treasure! The design of the car is very unique and instantly recognisable to RC racers and collectors. To us, this makes it iconic and worthy of our list.
4 - Tamiya Pilot Escort Cosworth
The next one on the list is our first Tamiya model. Tamiya is an icon in its own right when it comes to RC cars. Most of us start our RC journey with a Tamiya model, and with models of every possible type, there is something for everyone. The Escort Cosworth in the Michelin Pilot Rally Livery is undoubtedly iconic. Released in the '90s, it instantly became the flagship kit that was present in every model shop in the country.
An interesting fact about this model is that the full-sized version of the car wasn’t part of the World Rally Championship. It only raced in the British Championship, which wasn’t nearly as popular as the WRC. The car was dominant, however, when driven by rallying icon Malcolm Wilson. But during the '90s, when the TA01 Escort kit was released, it’s safe to say the Tamiya model was more iconic than the real rally car to the worldwide audience.
3 - Team Associated RC10
Next is definitely more of an iconic car than just a bodyshell. The RC10 was mentioned a lot by our followers. It’s also been frequently associated with happy RC memories. Released in 1984, the car was an instant success and sold well around the world. It picked up multiple world and national titles and was a favourite for club racers due to its ease of setup and enjoyment.
Although the original concept came from Baja buggy racing of the 1970s, the shape has become iconic and has become a relatable stereotype for how RC cars generally look. The RC10 may not have pioneered this design, but it definitely mastered it!
2 - Protoform/HPI Dodge Stratus
You know a bodyshell design is great when it gets copied... a lot! That’s the case with the Dodge Stratus design, which was very popular in the early 2000s. It’s not fully clear who created the first Stratus body, but it was likely either HPI or Protoform. It was, however, the first Touring Car body that transformed the class and dominated all major A Finals. So much so that it was copied by many other manufacturers.
It’s also one of the only few bodyshells that had minor evolutions to keep it at peak performance. Both Protoform and HPI released three other versions of the Stratus. There have been other bodies just as popular, like the PF Mazda 6 and more recently the Extreme Twister, but nothing is quite as memorable as the Stratus. Our followers definitely agree because it was mentioned a lot.
1 - Tamiya Grasshopper/Hornet
Our top pick is a very familiar one. It’s so iconic that it seems to pop up in every hot topic we discuss, whether for good reasons or bad. As we mentioned before, Tamiya are the kings of iconic RC cars. We had a lot of their models mentioned, with close favourites like the Sand Scorcher and the Lunch Box. But the Grasshopper and Hornet seem to sit above the rest, most likely due to how popular they still are.
It is commonly classed as the best selling Tamiya RC model. This is credited to them being great value for money and also being the first RC car for many enthusiasts, which always creates lasting memories. So if enthusiasts love them and they're so popular that even people outside the hobby recognise them, surely that makes them one of the most iconic RC cars/bodies of all time? We think it does!
Next weeks Hot Topic will be:
Should RC buggies have interchangeable bodyshells across all brands?
Would a standard shape make things better for racers? Could it level out performance across manufacturers? Would it help make racing more affordable?
Or would it take away the uniqueness of different brands?
Drop your thoughts in the comments on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rcclubhub.
Cool Wall Submissions
Andy Freeman - Saffron Serpent
Verdict: Andy says he's still learning with painting bodies but he'd clearly mastered creating a successful Cool Wall submission! We love the picture Andy!
Andy Travis - Gen 2 Benetton
Verdict: Yes, the name does look familiar! Andy is back, we'll admit we were thinking of telling him he's got too many on the wall, but we have a soft spot for Gen 2 Formula-E cars. This one is a masterpiece!
Castle Racing - Iridescent Cougar
Verdict: This is simply stunning! We really love the paint job and also the inbound shocks. And who can say no to a great trackside picture.
Check out our Cool Wall here: https://www.rcclubhub.co.uk/index.php/rc-pit-post/the-cool-wall
Submit your body designs via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rcclubhub
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ClubHub Steve